Government summit

Im Jong-seok, chief of staff for RoK President Moon Jae-in, told a press briefing that the Moon government will push for a senior-level dialogue with the DPRK in late March for the inter-Korean summit agreed to be held in late April. The RoK planned to officially propose to the DPRK for holding the high-level talks, Im said, after convening the first meeting of the presidential committee to prepare for the summit between President Moon and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the DPRK. The first meeting, Im said, confirmed the upcoming inter-Korean summit should become a turning point to resolve the Korean Peninsula issues. For the fundamental resolution, he said the committee will make preparations for the summit focusing on issues to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, dramatically defuse military tensions, build a permanent peace and advance new inter-Korean relations. Aside from the preparation committee of the Blue House, a separate advisory group, composed of 30 to 40 members, will be … [Read more...] about RoK to seek high-level talks with DPRK for inter-Korean summit preparation: Blue House

The first ASEAN-Australia Special Summit opened in Sydney, on March 16, in the presence of Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the leaders of ASEAN nations, including Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull makes opening remarks (Source: smh.com.au) Themed “Enhancing Regional Security and Prosperity”, the event is expected to discuss issues related to regional security and economic relations, as well as counter-terrorism measures, in order to further tighten the relationship between Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The ASEAN-Australia Business Summit, the International Counter-Terrorism Conference and a plenary meeting of the senior leaders are scheduled to take place within the framework of the three-day event. Leaders of ASEAN and Australia will adopt a Sydney Statement, a joint declaration of the summit and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on anti-terrorism … [Read more...] about ASEAN-Australia Special Summit opens

North Korea's foreign minister landed in Sweden on Thursday for talks, prompting speculation that the two-day trip could lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman said Ri Yong Ho was in Stockholm to discuss with Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom the security situation on the Korean peninsula and Sweden's diplomatic representation of the United States in North Korea. Sweden, which is not a member of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance, has been mentioned as a potential location for a possible face-to-face meeting between Trump and Kim. "If it is the case that the main players want Sweden to play a role, to facilitate, to be a forum or a link or whatever else, we are prepared to do that," Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told Swedish news agency TT. "But it must be the main players who decide, in that case, what role Sweden will have." North Korean state media … [Read more...] about North Korean foreign minister visits Sweden amid summit speculation

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has arrived in Australia for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to attend a summit on the ASEAN-Australia relationship. PM Phuc, along with his wife and a delegation of high-ranking officials, touched down in Canberra at 3:10 pm on Wednesday (local time), commencing his state visit to Australia from March 14 to 18, at the invitation of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He will also participate in the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 17 and 18. ASEAN is short for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations – a political and economic organization whose members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. During the first day of his visit, Prime Minister Phuc visited Australian National University (ANU), Australia's top university and among the top 20 universities in the world. Addressing the school’s leaders, PM Phuc … [Read more...] about ​Vietnamese premier visits Australia, attends ASEAN special summit

On 8 March 2018, the United States government announced that US President Donald Trump had agreed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a place and time to be determined. The media seem to agree that there are two possible places in which this surprising event could take place: the Korean Demilitarized Zone or Beijing. The location of the meeting is highly symbolic and could therefore be a valuable strategic move for both parties. Hanoi is an ideal choice, satisfying three criteria that are important to a successful outcome: it demonstrates serious interest in making fundamental improvements to US–North Korea relations, it sends a powerful symbolic message to the world community in a place where the Vietnam and the United States have reconciled past grievances, and it points to the preparatory steps that North Korea needs to make to join the world community. By choosing Hanoi as the meeting’s venue, both parties would demonstrate that they are serious about making … [Read more...] about Hanoi the ideal place for the Trump–Kim summit